Snowshoe binding



Jan. 18, 1955 K. D. PETERSON SNOWSHOE BINDING Filed March 18, 1954 m l I Km 0. Perm s00 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent SNOWSHOE BINDING Knut D. Peterson, Slana, Territory of Alaska Application March 18, 1954, Serial No. 417,180

3 Claims. (Cl. 36-45) My invention relates to improvements in snow shoe bindings for securing the foot to a snow shoe.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a binding for snow shoes which can be easily and quickly attached to a conventional snow shoe and which will not shrink when wet, requires no buckles to adjust the same to the foot, will not become ice coated and is self adjusting to the foot, comfortable, durable and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Other and subordinate objects together with the precise nature of my improvements will become apparent when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification.

In said drawing:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in plan illustrating my improved binding attached to a snow shoe;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in longitudinal section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in perspective of the binding detached and inverted; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail fragmentary view partly in transverse section and partly in side elevation of the band attaching means.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, my improved binding is shown therein attached to a conventional snow shoe 1 having the usual frame 3, transverse fiat foot bridge 5, and interlaced body portion 7.

The binding designated generally by the numeral 9 comprises an endless oval toe band 11 adapted to extend longitudinally along the top of the foot bridge to receive the toe of a shoe 13, and provided with a bottom portion 15 attached to said foot bridge 5 by means presently described and a U-shaped heel strap 17 adapted to extend rearwardly from the top portion 19 of the toe band 11 and around the heel portion of the shoe 13 at the counter not shown. The toe band 11 and heel strap 17 are formed of rubber of suitable resiliency and the heel "ice strap 17 has front ends 21 suitably vulcanized to the top portion 19 of the toe band 11 at opposite sides of the transverse center of said band. Optionally the heel strap 17 may be formed integrally with the toe band 11.

The toe band 11 is detachably attached to the foot bridge 5 by the following means: T-shaped flexible resilient fasteners 25 spaced along and extending from the front edge 27 of the bottom portion 15 of said band 11 are looped around and under the foot bridge 5 and passed upwardly behind the same through slots 29 in said portion 15 with cross portions 31 of said fasteners forming buttons to hold the fasteners 25 against pulling loose. The fasteners 25 are formed integrally with the toe band 11. The bottom portion 15 is suitably reenforced around the slots 29 as by slotted bosses 33 suitably fixed to said portion 15 or formed integrally therewith.

In applying the described binding to the foot the heel strap is stretched apart so that the toe of the shoe 13 can be inserted in the toe band 11. The heel band 17 is then stretched and pulled upwardly around the heel portion of the shoe. The toe band and heel strap being made of rubber contract to yieldingly grip the toe and heel of the shoe to securely hold the foot to the snow shoe.

The foregoing, it is believed, will suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the invention as herein disclosed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A binding for attachment to a transverse support of a snow shoe and securing a foot on the snow shoe comprising, an endless band of resilient flexible material for receiving therein and yieldingly gripping the toe of a shoe worn on the foot, said band having bottom and top portions, respectively, fasteners on said bottom portion engageable with said support for securing the bottom portion to said support, and a heel strap of U-shape extending rearwardly from said top portion for positioning around the heel portion of the shoe.

2. A binding according to claim 1 said heel strap being formed of resilient flexible material to yieldingly grip said heel portion.

3. A binding according to claim 1, said fasteners comprising T-shaped flexible members having button forming cross portions, and slots in said bottom. portions for the insertion of said cross portions therethrough to loop said fasteners around said support and attach the fasteners to said bottom portion.

No references cited. 

